Behind Noble Princess Consort Zhan’s faint smile was a hidden resilience. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

’The Zhan family’s misfortune is mine alone to bear. I can’t let the next generation be dragged into this pit of fire.’

"The Crown Prince is here—"

A eunuch’s voice rang out as Sang Qi walked into the hall.

"Your son pays his respects to Her Majesty, the Empress, and to Mother-Consort," Sang Qi said, bowing.

"You may rise. It’s rare for the Crown Prince to visit Kunning Palace. It seems we have Miss Xiang to thank for the honor," the Empress said with a light laugh.

With a cold expression, Sang Qi walked over and sat down beside Consort Yuan.

The other concubines clutched their handkerchiefs, not daring to breathe. Anyone could hear the sarcasm in the Empress’s words.

"Your Majesty, you misunderstand," Consort Yuan began, each word dripping with sincerity, yet each a blatant boast. "Qi’er has been incredibly busy with his studies since entering Lou Mountain Academy. Even when he returns to the palace for his days of rest, the Emperor personally quizzes him. I rarely get to see him myself."

The light in the Empress’s eyes dimmed, but the smile on her lips remained. "The Emperor holds the Crown Prince in high regard. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have betrothed the daughter of General Xiang to him."

Hearing this, both Madam Zhan and Noble Princess Consort Zhan were displeased.

Ye Qianning was finally getting a taste of what they meant when they said the imperial harem devoured people. The Empress and Consort Yuan had been fighting for years; they were the two reigning terrors of the palace.

The other concubines didn’t dare to offend either side.

Noble Princess Consort Zhan had always preferred peace and quiet, rarely socializing. She was considered a breath of fresh air in the harem.

And thanks to the Zhan family’s power, ordinary concubines didn’t dare provoke her.

Of course, Noble Princess Consort Zhan was neither a coward nor a fool, so both Consort Yuan and the Empress preferred not to make an enemy of her. On most days, they were cordial to her.

Princess Heliang and Princess Changyang saw the situation as clearly as day. They just pitied the child who had become a tool for the others’ squabbles and mockery.

Consort Yuan was fuming internally. ’A wild country girl just arrived in the Capital City and is already the future Crown Princess Consort. When word gets out, Qi’er will surely become a laughingstock.’

’She didn’t approve of the Emperor’s scheme. The Zhan family not vying for power for their own prince or princess? Who would believe such a thing?’

’Xiang Minghou has been at war for years; it’s not even certain he’ll live to see that day.’

’The Qian family is the most cunning of all. Would they really let themselves be manipulated for the sake of a mere child?’

’And the Gu family are just merchants, hardly worth mentioning.’

’To her, this marriage would only bring mockery and a stain upon the Crown Prince’s name.’

"Hmph, fatso," Sang Qi glared at her.

"Your Highness, Qian Ning is still young. A little pudge is healthy," Madam Zhan said, displeased.

"Healthy? She’s six years old with the body of a four-year-old. Madam Zhan, you’d best find a physician to check on her, lest she have some incurable disease," Sang Qi sneered, his disgust growing the more he looked at her.

Especially after the betrothal, even a single glance at her made him feel sick.

"We know perfectly well whether she is sick or not. We don’t need the Crown Prince’s concern," Madam Zhan’s voice grew cold.

"Who would be concerned about someone who’s sick?" Sang Qi scoffed.

"Your Highness..."

"Madam Zhan, it’s just children squabbling. It’s not worth getting angry over," Consort Yuan interrupted with a smile.

Madam Zhan took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. ’How could someone like him possibly be worthy of my granddaughter? This engagement must be broken. I have to find a way to break it as soon as possible.’

"Being sick is still better than being an imbecile," Ye Qianning’s voice drawled slowly.

Everyone in the hall froze.

Sang Qi’s face twisted. "Fatso, what did you just say?"

"Your brain doesn’t work, and now your ears are failing too?" Ye Qianning said, turning her eyes toward him.

"Fatso, you’re asking for it!" Sang Qi shot to his feet.

"Someone with no manners is still alive, so why should I be the one asking for it? If anyone should die, it should be the one with no manners."

"How dare you! You dare curse me?"

Ye Qianning clicked her tongue in mock exasperation. "Your Highness, I was talking about people with no manners. I never mentioned you. Your Highness shouldn’t take it so personally."

Sang Qi gritted his teeth in anger.

"Alas, it seems the Crown Prince’s mind really isn’t working well. Your Grace the Consort should probably have an Imperial Physician take a look at him. The sooner, the better," Ye Qianning said, perfectly mimicking Sang Qi’s earlier tone as she shook her head with a sigh.

As the saying goes, some debts must be paid back immediately; you can’t just let them slide.

Consort Yuan’s charming eyes darkened. The girl’s words had left her speechless. She never expected a child’s mind to work so quickly.

The Empress, who had been feeling rather sullen, couldn’t help but break into a smile. It wasn’t every day one got to see Consort Yuan get put in her place.

Noble Princess Consort Zhan also hadn’t expected the child to be so formidable.

Princess Changyang had spent many days with Ye Qianning and knew the little girl was remarkably sharp. At first, she had worried the child wouldn’t be able to handle this, but seeing her completely unfazed, she realized her concerns had been for nothing.

Princess Heliang had met Ye Qianning at a banquet before. At the time, she didn’t think the girl was as outstanding as the Prince had made her out to be. Even today, observing her on their way to the palace, she had only thought the child was chubby and cute.

Only now did she realize this little child was anything but simple.

"Children speak without thinking. Your Grace the Consort, you mustn’t get angry," Madam Zhan said, perfectly capturing Consort Yuan’s own brand of official-sounding condescension.

"Consort Yuan has always been magnanimous. Of course she wouldn’t take it to heart," Noble Princess Consort Zhan added in agreement.

"Madam Zhan, Consort Yuan is a woman of exceptional insight and is famous for her kindness. How could she possibly get angry over such a small matter?" the Empress chimed in, her mood greatly improved.

Having lost face, Consort Yuan couldn’t very well lash out. "No one in the Imperial Palace has ever dared to squabble with Qi’er like this. Miss Xiang is the very first. General Xiang has certainly raised a lively little girl."

It was a compliment on the surface, but in reality, it was a jab at the child for having no respect for her superiors.

"Your Grace the Consort, I may not have been at Lou Mountain for long, but I understand the principle of ’do not do to others what you would not have them do to you.’ And as for status, as the Dean’s personal disciple, there is no one at the academy with higher seniority than me. For the Crown Prince to call me ’fatso’ over and over is, I think you’ll agree, somewhat unreasonable," Ye Qianning said, standing up and clasping her small hands behind her back.

Her little face was serious and her tone was earnest, giving her a rather commanding presence.

It was the first time Madam Zhan had seen the little girl so serious and earnest. She had to admit, the child really did have the bearing of the Dean’s personal disciple.

’What a fine phrase, "Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you."’

Noble Princess Consort Zhan felt a surge of admiration. ’No wonder Dean Chen took her as a disciple.’

Consort Yuan’s eyes were as deep as a whirlpool. ’To understand such veiled words at such a young age... she is truly not simple.’

"What ’do not do to others’! Fatso, don’t think you can pull rank on me all day just because you’re the Dean’s disciple! When it comes to status, you’re not even worthy of being compared to me!" Sang Qi shouted.

Ye Qianning said nothing, but the look on her face was exactly like she was looking at an idiot.

She didn’t need to say a word; the mockery was plain to see.

Madam Zhan shook her head slightly.

Princess Changyang and Princess Heliang were also stunned by her earlier words, and when they recovered, there was a new layer of admiration in their eyes as they looked at the little girl.

Nanxiang tilted her head, not understanding what was being said. But to be able to talk to Consort Yuan like that—she thought Pangtuan was amazing.

The Empress and the other concubines all turned to look at Sang Qi. Even those who didn’t understand the meaning of the phrase could see that the Crown Prince was clearly not as intelligent as Miss Xiang.

But no one was more pleased than the Empress. The more she looked at Ye Qianning, the more she liked what she saw.

Consort Yuan was furious. Even though she wanted to defend Sang Qi, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Qi’er, shut your mouth!"

"Mother-Consort," Sang Qi’s own face was red with anger.